Chapter 3: Visual

Storm needn't have been worried about her share of birthday cake. Xavier had procured possibly the largest cake in New York City, large enough so that even the hungriest students (Jamie Madrox sent his doubles in for fourths and fifths) were content. Sabere mingled and chatted, mostly with Storm and Xavier, looking up every so often to see Kurt surrounded by well-wishers. Every once in a while gasps of amazement were heard, and Sabere knew he was showing off the image inducer. The soft murmurs and conversation had a numbing effect on Sabere, and she felt herself drifting lazily through the evening, sleepy and content, like a cat.

She excused herself from a conversation to get some water. The lights in the halls had been dimmed, and dozens of candles had been brought out to light the common room where the celebration was and the hall along it. The kitchen was towards the end, and walking past the dark panels on the walls and seeing her shadow dance in the glow around her was quite soothing. She took her time finding a glass, and stood lazily by the counter watching the shadows in the hall. Familiar quiet footsteps revealed that Kurt had escaped the festivities and had followed her to the kitchen. He peered around the door, his silhouette barely visible against the candlelit wood behind.

"We are going to go on a date, ja?"

She squinted at him, puzzled. "Of course."

"So let's go."

"What, now?" She set down the water glass

Kurt shrugged and walked into the kitchen. "Why not? No one will notice."

"Kurt, there are at least three telepaths here. Someone will notice."

"Well, we'll leave a note."

"You're serious about this? Leave, right now?"

As an answer, he wrapped his arms around her and teleported them into the garage.

She opened her eyes, which had been tightly shut out of habit. Teleporting was not her favorite means of transportation. Her gaze fell on Scott's sweet Mazda, and she smiled in spite of herself. At Kurt did look very dashing in that forest-green shirt… What the hell.

"Okay, fine – but I need money."

Kurt laughed. "Details." He teleported away.

/Just be back before dawn./ Xavier's wry astral voice entered her head.

/Do you burst into everyone's head, or am I just special?/

/Sabere, wait./ This was a different voice – feminine – Jean's, but distressed. Her "words" were blurring in Sabere's mind, confused and anxious colors melding with the plain emotions in Jean's mind. /There's something going on. I don't know what, or where, but – be careful./

/Should we stay in?/

/No, no…I'm probably overreacting…/ A frown and dark brooding blue washed across Sabere's mind. /Just be careful./

/Okay…/

Kurt reappeared in the garage, beaming, apparently ignorant of the strange message from Jean. "Shall we?"

She felt a smile grow and relaxed a little. "Of course."

-----

The evening was not going as smoothly as Sabere had hoped. Maybe it was just Jean's warning, but something was bothering Sabere. She couldn't ignore the sensation of being watched. Maybe this is what Jean was talking about. Maybe someone here knows who we are, and they're waiting to catch us off-guard – God, this must be how a fish feels in a tank with a cat sitting outside – this is no cat, this is a tiger – tiger and mouse – it's that powerful, I wish I knew what it was – you need to focus, you're overreacting –

"You have not eaten a lot."

Sabere actually jumped a bit and looked down at her plate in surprise. She was so preoccupied that she had hardly touched her salad. "I'm sorry…I just – " She lowered her voice. "I feel like there's someone watching me, and I can't get over it."

Kurt frowned. "Should we leave?" She couldn't bear to tell him about Jean's feeling. He was having a great time. Sabere couldn't ruin it with her unfounded paranoia.

"No, I think it's fine, it's just…annoying." She cast another glance around the restaurant – there was someone watching her, she could feel it.

Now Kurt looked a little amused. "Are you sure you are okay? Is there a riot about to start?"

"Kurt, I don't think it's human!" she hissed, ignoring his chuckles.

"What, aliens?" He grinned, brown eyes twinkling. "Is there something watching you?"

"Kurt, for the love of – "

A brilliant blue light flashed outside the building, blue lightning, more blinding than a star. She twisted away from it, cowering in her chair. The restaurant's patrons cried out, turned away in sync. Sabere looked up in horror, staring wildly out the window, around the tables, eyes sweeping over the frantic humans. It was here, watching her now, looking for her – it knew exactly what it wanted now, it just had to find it –

"Kurt –"

Another flash, red, blinded her, and amid more screams Sabere fell to the floor, trying to hide from the presence. A memory surfaced, uncalled-for – Kurt, training, the knife in his shoulder, her hands, her power, healing him, healing the presence – another memory, drawn casually from the back of her mind like a file in a cabinet, Rogue's leg at the military base, more healing, more powers flowing – the red lightning grew hotter, blinded her, singed the air around her, glowing white – the presence vanished.

Sabere sat up. A man crouched in front of her, terrified – she knew the face – his eyes are different –

"Sabere? Sabere, say something, what happened?" A German accent. Kurt.

She couldn't answer him; she was exhausted. The painful light echoed in her mind, blinding her senses, weakening her – what happened here?

"Sabere, we're going to get you home, hold on – "

I'll try – He couldn't answer her thoughts, but it was all she could manage. Barely coherent, she let him haul her to her feet. She staggered out of the restaurant, leaning on him, letting him guide them through the crowds of frightened and puzzled people. The watcher did this, she tried to shout. He was watching me, he wanted me, and he did this!

Her only comfort was that the watcher was gone.